Trade sales rebounded in February 2024 (+1.6%) – Quick Facts – 111

In February 2024, trade sales volumes increased by 1.6% month-on-month, compared with a decrease of 0.7% in January.

In February 2024, sales in wholesale trade, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles, rebounded significantly (+1.9% vs. -0.4% in the previous period). This rebound was mainly due to “other specialized wholesale” (fuel, wood, chemical products, etc.: +2.9% vs. -1.1% in the previous period), information and communication equipment (+7.5% vs. +1.2% in the previous period) and agricultural raw materials and live animals (+7.1% vs. -3.6% in the previous period).

In February 2024, sales in the wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles also recovered (+3.0% after -4.8%), especially motor vehicle sales (+3.7% after -7.0%).

Finally, in February 2024, sales in retail trade excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles slowed down (+1.0% after +0.4%), especially in specialized stores (+1.3% after +0.7%). Retail trade in non-specialized stores grew faster (+0.1% after +0.8%), with a slight decline in non-specialized stores (+0.7% after -0.2%). Within specialized stores, sales of “other goods” (pharmaceuticals, clothing, footwear, etc.: +1.8% after +0.7%) grew again, and sales of food, beverages and tobacco rebounded significantly (+2.3% after -0.7%).

According to preliminary estimates, sales of retail trade, excluding cars and motorcycles, are expected to increase again in March 2024 (+1.1% month-on-month). In the first quarter of 2024, this figure will be 1.0% higher than in the first quarter of 2023.

Sales volume in the overall trade increased by 0.8% during the reporting period (December 2023 to February 2024) compared to the same period last year. The growth in trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (+4.9%) was more pronounced than in retail trade other than motor vehicles and motorcycles (+0.3%). Sales volume in wholesale trade remained stable, except for motor vehicles and motorcycles (0.0%). In retail trade, sales volume increased in both specialty stores (+0.7%) and non-store retail trade (+0.5%), while sales volume decreased in non-specialty stores (-0.5%).